Registration for the 2009 RWA National Convention just opened. My phone just buzzed at me – Go register! and the site’s not loading. How many people want to go to this conference, anyway? Get outta my way!
How long until actual registration is possible?
ETA: “We are experiencing technical problems. The site you requested will be back up soon.”
RWA Conference Registration : it’s almost like being FARKed or slash-dotted, only not.
ETA: I’m in! But actually selecting the conference was a challenge for me. I had to go to “Store” then “Events” and then select the conference (the one with the really big price tag – heh heh, You can’t miss it).
ETA: DANG. Now I’m being told I have to select an event fee, but there are none available to me. Gah! This is frustration, and I can’t imagine how much it must suck to be the switchboard operator at RWA this morning. I have so been there.
ETA: Ok, not enough caffeine. I had to tell the site I was a “member” (huh huh) and then wait for it to reload with the event option. That was the hold up – the reloading. Poor server. It must be crying.
ETA: We did it! We did it, yeah, we did it! Lo hicimos! We registered for RWA and reloaded the web page – we did it! We did it, yeah, we did it! We selected our members and paid $400+ – we did it! We did it, yeah, we did it! We’ll go to DC and have a kickass time – I hear the bar is extra large and that’ll be fine! We did it, yeah, we did it!
ETA: If you’re looking to make hotel reservations, the form is now online and RWA will contact you for credit card information is you use the online form.
Great – it’s already messing up? Gah.
I completed the registration for the conference itself, but the procedure for registering for the hotel? Black hole.
I’m a little underwhelmed about the level of information (not) available concerning why we have to work through RWA to reserve rooms. WTF. Okay, mom.
I want in! But it won’t let me! (Throwing hissy fit)
I just spoke with Cheryl Dickerson and she said they’re aware of the hotel registration issue—the system’s overloaded but they’re working on straightening it out.
Which is good because I tried just straight up registering for the hotel via the Marriott website and wouldn’t you know it, it’s already sold out, like sold out thing.
LOL! *Tosses in some pompoms for the cheerleading*
I can’t register until tomorrow but if the site is already having issues, I’m a bit concerned it’ll be sucked dry before I can!
Thanks for the update, Barb! (And bless Cheryl. Chin up!)
Thought I registered for the conference(gave cc info and everything) and got confirmation that I was signed up to volunteer! I’m happy to volunteer but I’d like to be registered, too.
Watching Dora the Explorer a bit much, lately? *grin*
…I am going to have Dora’s “We Did It!” song in my head all day now. Thanks for that, Sarah.
I would think that all the phone lines and cell traffic must be rawther busy today. Maybe tomorrow might be easier.
I’m on the road (in the air actually in an hour or so). I can’t register tonight until I get home – or tomorrow. I hope there’s space left. This will be my first RWA and I don’t want to miss it! Especially since the DH is coming. Yay for Smithsonian!
I finally got in also. What a pain that was. This conference is going to be financially painful! But I hope it’s worth it. Haven’t been to one since 1996.
Jeanne:
In my experience it is. First, RWA offers a lot of meals, which are part of the cost. Plus, the venues I’ve been to have been pretty spiffy in terms of hotel facilities and meeting space. From what I’ve learned in my conversations with the RWA convention gurus, the DC Wardman Park Marriott is kick-o-licious in terms of meeting rooms and public areas.
It is a lot of money, but I find that it is worth it. I hope you will to.
Given the mongo meeting space, could I offer a suggestion that any Smart Bitches gathering (pls pls?!) be held at the conference hotel instead of an area bar? I very much wanted to attend last year’s event, but just couldn’t get there between events.
XXOOO
Congrats! 🙂
I’ve been to the conference hotel before, and it is really very nice and spacious. There is a TON of public meeting space, and there are some other nice hotels very nearby.
BTW, the Wardman Tower is about 5 minutes away if you amble slowly—if you run pell-mell, it’s only 1.5 minutes. And to be honest, there are parts of the center tower that are REALLY REALLY far from the elevators.
If for some reason you don’t want to stay in the conference hotel, the Omni Shoreham is literally across the street—closer even than it looks on Google maps. It’s so close that there are even signs in the Marriot Wardman directing you to the Omni. And the Omni is also extremely nice (and if you sign up for their e-mail list they give you free internet!)
I had no problems registering. Well, one problem, but it was user error. And I got through to Cheryl on the first try to straighten it out. I’m excited about the conference (who put July so far away?) and the Smithsonian!
I will drink with the SBs anywhere.
From what I understand, this new process is to make sure that the people who register for hotel rooms during conference, particularly RWA-block rooms, are actually registered for the conference. In the past, folks would reserve rooms (or room with people) who hadn’t paid for the the actual conference—maybe they did it to be in the same place as all the parties and their agent/eds, but without having to pay the actual reg fee.
When that happens, rooms for conference-goers get sucked up faster, and RWA has to book add’l rooms at an overflow hotel, generally paying more money for them and inconvenience people who are actually trying to attend workshops, etc. This built-in pain-in-the-ass charge was worked into conference registration fees, even though it wasn’t the fault of conference goers. This year, in an effort to cut expenses as far as they can, especially when fielding questions as to why the darn thing costs more than in Dallas, etc., they decided to be pre-emptive against these room moochers. To reserve a double room, for example, you have to have both roomies registered, and you have 30 days (I think) to get the roomies on board.
That’s the reason why we book through an RWA medium, instead of directly through the hotel. It’s a pain, but it’s designed, ultimately, to save money. (I’m not a board member, honest! Just think it’s a good thing to have explained, because it is a hassle for all involved. Think about calling 2000 people back to confirm credit card info?)
FYI, I got in just fine to both sites right after the inaugural speech. Maybe Obama clogged the intertoobz.
I live in DC, and I simply can’t afford to do the conference, but I would love to do a SBTB gathering if y’all decide to go for it.
I can testify that the Marriott-Wardman is an awesome hotel, and you’re in a great location (around the corner from one metro and an easy walk to another when the weather’s fine). I am happy to send links to restaurants ($ to $$$$) and sightseeing and so forth for anyone who wants it; just drop me an email! 😀
Okay, someone has to be the contrarian, and I guess that someone is me.
I was at last year’s conference. I’ve been going the last three years. I’m seriously thinking about not going this year. First of all, the next three conferences are on the East Coast – great for those who live there, not so great for those of us who are now schlepping cross-country. It would be nice to have some indication of workshops, etcetera, before registration opens.
It would also be nice if RWA might announce the per-night charge for the hotel as well prior to registration.
The RWA site crashing this morning? Happens every year, too. Don’t even get me started on that one.
Maybe I’m just cranky. LOL
-S
Today was not a good day to try and do anything by cell phone, even with the temporary towers that they put up in DC for the events there.
Wish I was going to RWA. Have fun whoever is going!! We want a detailed description.